Hispanics have a bad reputation for being machistas or chauvinistic, not wanting to talk about their feelings or seeking help when they have a problem. According to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the 12th leading cause of death for Hispanics of all ages and the 3rd leading cause of death for Hispanic males ages 15 to 34.
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Among Hispanic ethnic subgroups in the U.S., Puerto Rican adults had the highest rates of suicide attempts and most attempts occurred before the age of 18. According to a 2012 CDC report, 13.5 percent of Hispanic female students in grades 9-12 admitted attempting suicide, much higher than black and non-Hispanic teens.
Why?
There are a variety of factors that contribute to the this high-risk age group, but bullying is a big one. Unfortunately many teens that are bullied develop significant depression because they’re constantly harassed. Many times they don’t have the guidance when they are going through these troubled experiences, which causes them to feel lonely and attempt to end their lives.
There is a stigma of mental illness in the Latino community, which prevents teens from getting professional help. They are ashamed to be feeling like this and many times they can’t accept that they need help until it’s too late. Many times they ask their family or friends for help and they don’t know how to help them or they might not have access to mental health services. Unfortunately, there is also very little awareness of mental health issues in the Latino community.
How Can You Help?
There are several organizations that are experienced and can put you in touch with professional help locally. These are some organizations that can help:
- National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- NIMH Suicide Prevention
Teens and adults can also reach out to people at their school or work such as, a social worker, teacher, human resources or their doctor that can refer them to someone. The important thing is that they get the help they need before it’s too late.
NEXT: Depression Puts You At Risk For Other Health Problems